The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-01-13

The Indiana Democracy are following
fast in the path of their brethren in Ohio
and Illinois, ana moving forward to the
same destination-th penitentiary for
some of their headlights. The Dem
ocratic Lieutenant Governor, last year,
was appointed to the position OF Collec-
tar of Internal Revenue, and resigned his
Office of Lieutenant Governor and Pres
ident of the Senate. Senator Smith was
chosen president pro tenn Of the Senate.
The question whether there was vacan-
CIV in the office of Lieutenant Governor
was raised, and as Gov. Gray wanted to
90 to the United States Senate, and should
he be chosen, have Democratic success
sor in the Executive chair, it was deter
mined that there was a vacancy. The
Democratic Attorney General was con-
suited, and he gave the same opinion
So at the election in November both par.
ties nominated candidates to fill the va
cancy and made the canvass. The Re-
publicans, however, much to the surprise
and disappointment of the Democrats,
carried the State and elected the Repub
lican candidate for Lieutenant Governor
by decided and unquestioned majority.
| This carried grief to the Democratic
household. for it disturbed all their plans
and shattered their political slate. 1t set
tied the aspirations Of Governor Gray for
the United States Senatorship, and with
the casting vote of the Republican Lieut..
Governor, as President of the Senate, gives
the Republicans the control of both
branches of the Legislature, after the legit-
innate and honest returns are counted. In
this dilemma, the Democrats declared
there had not been a vacancy in the office
of Lieut.. Governor, Notwithstanding the
opinion of the Governor and the Attor-
ney General. and the fact that they had
! nominated and voted for candidate to
ill the vacancy. When the Legislature
convened. Smith, the president pro tenn
of the Senate, refused to count the vote
for Lieutenant Governor. and laime d
that he was president of the Senate, ard
no other person was. The matter was
, taken to the courts, and the decision was
unanimously against Smith and the De
mocracy, although the Supreme Judges
, are four of them Democrats and one Of
them is Republican. The Senate thus con
stituted refused to unite in joint session
to hear the Governor read his message
and continued to refuse TO count and de
clare the vote for Lieutenant Governor.
r In addition to this usurpation the expo
!. sure of frauds and forgery in the returns
+ for members of the Senate and House
). have been made, and the United State
Court has taken cogniZance Of the cases
Y ina smuch as the election was for member
i of Congress as well as members of TIN
v Legislature. These outrages do not hay'
e the effect to discourage or disheartel
i. the Republicans They know their right
), and mean to maintain them. They know
II that they have majority of the legal,
J. elected members of the Legislature, an,
O that in joint convention they will be abb
, to elect the United States Senator. TIL
' action of the Democrats virtually admit
o this and the outcome of it all will be tn
: selection of Hon. BENZ. Harrison to sue
If coed himself in the United States Senate
Similar methods to those adopted by tn
n Indiana Democrats were availed Of by Thu
s Democrats of Illinois and Ohio, but the
# failed, as they will fail in Indiana. Johl
% A. Logan was elected Senator from Hi
o nois, and John Sherman from Ohio, in tn
% face of the frauds perpetrated at the bal
o lot-box, and number of the culprlts sen
K to the penitentiary. Such, in all proba
u bility, will be the outcome Of the scoun
4 drelism of the Indiana Democracy.
n And such is Democratic Reform.
u +"